Minutes - 2002/10/28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council October 28, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 10 because this is a once in ten-year raise. He further commented that he hopes that Council Member Thomas does not accept her money and contributes it toward training. Council Member Thomas indicated she had already discussed the option with the Finance Director. Council Member Quick asked if the budget provided money for any other national conferences. Finance Director Hansen indicated he had not brought his budget work papers with him but said there was more than one national conference within the various departments. Council Member Quick asked if anybody else has already gone to a national conference. Mayor Sonterre and Director Ericson indicated that they had been to a national conference. Council Member Quick indicated he was curious because he only heard reference to one national conference tonight and that is something in the contractual agreement. He then said he does not feel it is appropriate to mention other items during the discussion when there is no reference to them and it is always the same Staff members that seem to be taken to task. He further said there seems to be a pattern here and it is very disturbing and he hopes the residents that watch the Council meetings are as aware of it as he is as it seems to be getting worse and seems to be much more intense and he condemns that kind of attitude by Council Members. Council Member Thomas said this has nothing to do with national conferences and then said she supports employee training and the ability to keep up in the field. She then said that she feels that training is one of the many priorities and responsibilities the City has to deal with as part of the budget process. She further said that a Council increase should have been dealt with long ago as it is definitely overdue but she feels this is the wrong time to deal with it. Council Member Stigney asked when the right time to deal with it would be since it has been 10 years. Council Member Thomas answered that the right time would be sometime when the budget is not this tight and the economy is not this unstable. Council Member Stigney said the budget is pretty much the same as it has been and he feels it is time to address this issue. Council Member Marty said he really does not see the comments to single anyone out because last fall Council discussed national conferences and determined that the Mayor would not go. ROLL CALL: Stigney/Marty/Quick/Thomas/Sonterre. Ayes - 3 Nays - 2(Sonterre/Thomas) Motion carried.